Liquid-level indicator



' vJuly 1', 1930.

R. J. ANscHlc-:Ks '1,768,946

LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR Fild oct.. 23..' 14 2" shuts-sheet 2 wf f -/a y I O7 gti/725.5

Patented July l, 1930 aerien j Para 'RUDOLPH J'. ANSCI-IICKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOISyASSIGNOR T O IPROTECTOSEAL -GOM f PANY F AMERICA, V0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION ILLINOIS LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR Application filed-October 23, 1924. Serial No. 745,429.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as gauges or indicators and relates particularly toa gauge adaptedto be used in connection with yliquidcontainers provided with a filler opening such as gasoline or like tanks, containers,cans, etc. l

rlhe device is particularly designed to be applied to the tank at the filler opening and is also applicable to tanks provided with filler or safety tubes projecting into the tank. In the embodimentof the invention shown the same is combined with a'safetytube which is insertable in the tank or receptacle through the filler opening. Generally speaking it may be said that safety tubes are used on tanks or receptacles at the filler opening for preventing excessive pressure being generated in thetank, or to prevent the contents of the tank from explodingor the escape of liquid from evaporation as Well as to facilitate the filling or emptying of the tank or can. The device v illustrated is particularly designedfor re-` ceptaeles containing explosive contents. The' invention has among its other objects the production of a device of the kinddescribed,

which is simple, convenient, compact, durable, eilicient and satisfactory for use wherever' found applicable. yMany other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown '30 and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given. To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementv and combination of parts herein shown and described, and

more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In thedrawings, wherein like `rreference taken on the arc 4 4 cffFig. 2 showing the inner tube in elevation; l Fig. 5 is an enlarged viewof one of the indicators; i

v ing(se'e Fig. 2 and preven Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a modified gauge construction;

Fig. 7 is a sectional vievv'w taken substantially on line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig.' 8 is a sectional view taken substan` tially on line 8 8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a View in elevation of another type of mechanism; and y Fig. l() isa sectional view taken substan! tially on line lO-lO of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown, it maybe mentioned that l represents a tank or receptacle ofsuitable size, shape' and material 4provided with a filler or vent flange 3. Suitably mounted on the flange 3,V as shown in threaded engagement therewith,`l` is aclosure member 4 which has anopening therethrough and carries a pair of concen' tric radially faced `tubes`5 and ,6 of suitable size, shape and material; I haveillustr'ated tubes made up of perforated sheet metal, it being understood that either one or both may be made of the perforated metal, wire gauze or the equivalent. Generally, I prefer the perforated metal. The `lower ends of these tubes are shown closed by bottoms andl 8, respectively. The two tubes are secured to the closure member 4 inany suitable manner, y gg,

preferab1y,as indicated, or in an equivalent manner, and I prefer to kprovide a plurality of openings 9 throughl the closure member about the centraly opening and'at the outer side of the inner tube, as shown. These openings are of the, desired size and `number and arranged generallyk about lor around the opent the contents of air locking in t e receptacle.

The central opening and openings 9 are eo normally closed by a cover or capmember 10, which may be flanged at the edge, as indicatedv at 1l, and arranged to closely lit the shoulder l2 on the member 4. L The cap member or cover l0 isshown pivotally connected at 14- to an arm 13,'Which is hinge-dto the member 4, as indicated at 15 or in an equivalent manner," a spring 10EL being provided to hold' the cap member in its closed position. I` havejnot considered it necessary toillusn u i Lopening' 2 at which 1s generally arranged a trate in details the cover construction or the ranged. Arranged Within each float cham- 23 and 24,-

method of attaching the same to the member 4, as obviously other forms of securing the cover in place may be employed. The particular cover shown is itself provided with a valve device l0b which is preferably substantiallylike that shown in U. S. Letters Patent, v1,457,97 6.

Only one embodiment of my invention is shown herein to illustrate the application of. the gauge to an opening, either the filler opening or a vent opening, as Well as a possible construction with a safety tube. One'l of the tubes, as shown inner tube V6, is constructed as indicated at 18 With an offset Vside Wall providing afloat. chamber, which is shown divided by partitions A19 forming a plurality of1 associated loat chambers 20. There is thus formed substantially a tube or Well Within which float mechanism may be y arber isv a float, indicated at 2l', 22, four floats and float chambersbeing. shown.

vExtending. from each float, which may beof cork, or any otherv construction suitable for the purpose, is a member or rod 25 extending tolthefupper or open endof the tubes. As shown, these menibersprojectup into or to the openings 9: and'if desired theyy may be each Vprovided with hcads26l I have illus-l trated in, Fig. 5 how lthe heads 26 may be recessed andthey recesses lille'diin byenameh 2'( rvthe like. yThese heads may bear. certain symbols such as l/4, 1*/2, etc., or4 letters,

or the like, indicating- Which'float they are connectedy with, and consequently the p quan# fof lliquid inthe tank. However, it is generally preferred to placethe symbols on theftop -of the member 4Ladjacent thel heads, as indicated at 28 in Fig. 2. While only one float andindicatorl may be employed, Ias for example, fine tov indicate thatthe tank is 6o ""leastsome liquid lin the tank, the amount4 empty or the contents getting low, it is gen-lv erallyfpreferred to provideV the plurality` of indicators so thatthe user maybe able to ascertain fromtime'to time the level in the tankandthereby'be fully advised at all times. I` have :shown guides 29 at either side of the chambers arrangedfto coact vvith the slides on 1the, floats andfguide the same in their travel and yprevent binding` of the parts.

"lkhe operation ofthe, deviceL illustrated may briefly lbe described `.as follows: When the floats' are `all down, as shown in the full lines in `Fig. 4, itindic'ates that the tank is empty orL practically so.V 'I havev illustrated as,z an `example inFig,4 4, in dotted lines, thelQperT ation of the gauge when thereis some vliquid inthe` tank, the'floatszQfl and 22 here vindi-l ctllgat theller opening that there is lat being. indicated atth'e top. The indicators 26.- atf the top andthe top cover mayl be so,

designed that'the'iirdicators ,are substantially out of sightlwh'efn the floats aredown but displayed substantially iush with or` above the portion 4 When the ioats are raised. While ordinarily they do not engage the cover even 'when up, of course, this is a matter of proproject up to any extent so that they are not.

easily injured during the lling ofthe tank by the funnel or supply hose connection or nozzle. By providing a plurality of floats arranged` in separate compartments they have a'liinited movement Within the limits ofthe compartments so that there is only a limited movement at the indicators and the extent of movement may ofcourse be varied by varying the proportion of the parts. As

shown, the connecting rods 25 are so formed` that inengagingthe tops of the float compartments they serve as stops.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, I` have shown atube 3l provided With the part 32 flanged as at 33 and 34 to form the float chambers and guides, the part being secured to the inner tube as indicated at 35 or in any equivalent manner. Inthis case (see F ig. 7) float,36 is provided With a bar 37, formed with the notches 38 for engagement With the guides 34. Obviously, any equivalent guide construction andv engaging means may be emvployed. Extending from the float. is an arm 39, Vwhich is connected to one of the rods, asV

plates 47 and 48. I also have shown a shelfA or bracket 49 arranged to receive and support the lower ends of the float rods, when in down position, which rods may bey formed with heads 50.y Y i In the construction shown in 9 and l0, a modified arrangement of; rods is employed. Referring to theseigures, 5l representsl the tube and 53, 54, 55 and 56 floats Which arey arranged in the float container 52 and guided as inthe construction previously described, or in, a similar manner. The several rods 57 extend to their respective floats and maybe lsecured thereto *in any suitable manner, the one shown (see Fig. l0) being bent up' as at 58 to interengage'with the float. Inthis form, thereare provided the partitions 59, 60, Gl and (32, Which con fine the floats andl limit their movements.

Ity Will be noted that with any of the constructions described, so far as the gauge mechanismis concerned, the outer tube 6 is not essential, and if the lloat container 18, 32 or 52,as the case may be,`is secured to the outer tube, the inner tube may be omitted Without `affecting the float mechanism.

It will be noted that the application of the affect the functions of the tube. The application of agauge in this manner also makes possible the application of a gauge to a smaller portable receptacle, such as safety cans containing a gallon or' five gallcns, or whatever size it may be. The same is so simple and inexpensive that itfmay be applied to such smaller receptacles at a very low cost. The device also has the advantage that it brings the filler opening and the gauge together, which adds to the convenience and there is required but one opening in the tank for thegauge or combined gauge and filler tube. In some instances the mechanism, instead of being applied at the filler opening, is applied at the vent openings or pipes, which are provided `on large storage tanks and where the filling is generally from the bottom of the tanks.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifica- Y tions maybemade in the same without departmyself to the exact form, construction, ar-

les

rangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a tank having a filling opening, ofa plurality of spaced concentric foraminous tubes projecting downward from said filling opening, means carried by said tank at said filling opening to carry said tubes, said means being provided with a` filling opening and said apertures, said cap being adapted to hold said float and rod functionally inoperative when in closed position.

2. The combination with a tank having a filling opening, of a plurality of concentric foraminous tubes projecting downward from said filling opening, means carried by said tank and said filling opening to carry said tubes, said means being provided with a plurality of apertures between the walls of said tubes whereby air may escape from the space between the tubes, a plurality of iioats in said space, an indicating member carried by each float, said indicating members being of different lengths and each of them being arranged to pass up and down through one of said apertures, and a pivoted cap for closing said filling opening and said apertures.

3. -In a device of the kind described and in combination, a closure member arranged for securement to a tank and provided with an opening, a pivoted cover carried by said member and arranged to normally close said opening, a plurality of tubes arranged one within the other and carried by said closure member at the under side thereof, said tubes` being constructed and arranged to provide a float chamber therebetween, a float arranged in said chamber and provided with means extending to the top of said closure member below said cover and having an indicator, said pivoted cover when in closed po-` sition being adapted to hold said float and said means in a functionally inoperative position, and means for limiting the upward movement of said float.

4. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a pair of spaced perforated tubes arranged one within the other, the inner tube being indented to provide a chamber at one side thereof between the tubes, transverse partitions arranged in said chamber dividing the same into a plurality of compartments, float members arranged in said compartments, and means operatively connected to saidfloats and projecting through to the upper ends of the tubes for indicating movement of the floats, and a cover normally covering the upper ends of said tubes and said indicating means.

5. In a receptacle having `a filling opening therein, a tubular foraminous member secured at said opening and projecting into said receptacle, a movably mounted cap for closing said filling opening, liquid level indicatingcmeans including a float disposed in said foraminous member, said indicating means being functionally inoperative when the cap is closed, and means disposed within said foraminous member for protectingthe float when liquid is poured into the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

RUDOLPH J. ANscincKs. 

